Breadcrumb

William E. Timmons (White House Central Files: Staff Member and Office Files)

Date Start

1969

Date End

1974

Abstract

The Presidential Historical materials of William E. Timmons, Assistant to the President for Legislative Affairs, are in the custody of the National Archives and Records Administration under the provisions of Title I of the Presidential Recordings and Materials Preservation Act of 1974 (P.L. 93-526, 88 Stat. 1695) and implementing regulations. In accordance with the Act and agency regulations, archivists reviewed the file group to identify personal and private materials and non-historical items. These items have been returned.

Materials covered by the Act have been archivally processed and are described in this register. Items that are security classified or otherwise restricted under the Act and regulations have been removed and placed in a closed file. A Document Withdrawal Record (NA Form 14021) with a description of each restricted document has been inserted at the beginning of each folder from which materials have been removed. A Document Control Record marks the original position of the withdrawn item.

Employees of the National Archives will review periodically the unclassified portions of closed materials for the purpose of opening those which no longer require restriction. Certain classified documents may be declassified under authority of Executive Order 13526 in response to a Mandatory Review Request (NA Form 14020) submitted by the researcher.

Cubic feet of materials: 126

Number of boxes: 361

Approximate number of pages: 350,000

Biographical Note

William E. Timmons was born on December 27, 1930 in Chattanooga, Tennessee. After graduating from the Baylor Military Academy in 1949, Mr. Timmons worked for the Provident Insurance Company until he joined the United States Air Force in 1951. He served in the Air Force until 1955 and took part in the Korean War. After leaving the Air Force, Mr. Timmons worked as an aide for Senator Alexander Wiley. He worked for Senator Wiley until 1961 during which time he earned his Bachelor’s of Science degree from Georgetown University in 1959. In 1962, Mr. Timmons worked as the Administrative Assistant to Representative Bill Brock and held this position until 1968. He was Congressman Brock’s Campaign Manager in 1962, 1964 and 1968. In 1965, Mr. Timmons was selected as the Outstanding Young Republican by the National Young Republicans.

In 1968, Mr. Timmons worked as the Director of Congressional Relations for the Nixon-Agnew campaign and after the election of Richard Nixon, he became the Deputy Assistant to the President for Legislative Affairs working for Bryce Harlow. In 1970, after Bryce Harlow left the Nixon White House, Mr. Timmons became the Assistant to the President for Legislative Affairs. Mr. Timmons held this position for the entire Nixon Presidency and he continued on as the Assistant to the President for Legislative Affairs for President Gerald R. Ford after President Nixon’s resignation,. In 1975, Mr. Timmons left the Ford Administration and, along with former White House staff member Tom Korologos, established the lobbying firm Timmons and Company. Timmons and Company became one of the top lobbying firms in Washington D.C. representing companies such as the Chrysler Corporation and Bristol-Myers. In 1978, President Jimmy Carter named Mr. Timmons to the Advisory Committee for Trade Negotiations. Mr. Timmons then served as an advisor to Ronald Reagan during his 1980 presidential campaign and he was in charge of Congressional Relations for the Reagan transition team after Ronald Reagan’s election. He was appointed to the U.S.-Japan Advisory Commission in 1986. In 2008, Mr. Timmons worked for the presidential campaign of John McCain preparing a transition team in case Mr. McCain won the election. Mr. Timmons also served as the Republican National Convention Manager for the conventions of 1972, 1976, 1980 and 1984. He was a convention advisor for George H.W. Bush in 1988 and George W. Bush in 2000.

William Timmons and his wife Mimi have three children and nine grandchildren. They currently reside in Bethesda, Maryland.

Scope and Content Note

The materials of the William E. Timmons collection cover the period from January 1969 to August 1974. During this period Mr. Timmons served first as Deputy Assistant to the President for Legislative Affairs (1969-1970) under Bryce Harlow and then as Assistant to the President for Legislative Affairs (1970-1974). Mr. Timmons served in this position until President Nixon’s resignation on August 9, 1974. The materials in this collection are arranged into seven series including Subject Files, Legislative Files, Inter-Office Memoranda, Correspondence, Chronological Files, Personnel Files and Reference and Research Files.

The Subject Files and Legislative Files series cover a wide range of foreign and domestic policy issues. Subjects in this series include: Vietnam, the environment, abortion, women’s rights, 18 year old voting age, health care, energy, the economy, and Watergate to name just a few. The materials mention creating legislation and strategy on how to get particular pieces of legislation passed or defeated. The series contains vote tracking sheets for Mr. Timmons and his staff to keep track on how the administration stood on an issue and what was needed to do to gather more support. There are also materials on potential implications if the President were to veto a piece of legislation and if there was sufficient support in Congress to overturn the President’s veto. Materials covering Vice-President Agnew’s resignation, the appointment of Congressman Gerald Ford as Vice-President and the potential impeachment of President Nixon over the Watergate affair are included.

The Inter-Office Memoranda series includes internal correspondence between Mr. Timmons and his staff, President Nixon and other members of the White House Staff. White House staff members who have materials in this series include: Henry Kissinger, H.R. Haldeman, John Ehrlichman, John Dean and Charles Colson. The subjects of this series are on legislative strategy and political issues. Campaign strategy is discussed in these materials including which Members of Congress have been favorable to the Nixon Administration and should receive White House support in their re-election efforts. The series contains a large amount of materials on Congressman Gerald Ford, Senator Bob Dole and Senator Strom Thurmond.

The Correspondence series is the largest series in the collection. Materials in this series include correspondence to and from Mr. Timmons and the Legislative Affairs staff. Staff members include Bill Casselman, Dick Cook, Patrick O’Donnell, Ken BeLieu, Max Friederadorf, Tom Korologos, Fred Webber, and Vern Loen. Subjects of these correspondences include requests from Members of Congress for The President to review certain legislative topics as well as requests for the President to contact members of their constituency on special occasions. The series also contains correspondence from Clark MacGregor who served as Counselor to the President for Legislative Affairs and correspondence Mr. Timmons received from the general public.

The Chronological Files series contain copies of all correspondence sent by Mr. Timmons and his staff. The materials are of the same subjects as correspondence in the collections other series. The Personnel Files series contain materials on individuals seeking positions with Mr. Timmons staff or with Legislative Affairs staff in other government agencies. Correspondence in this series includes requests from Members of Congress to find positions for individuals in their constituency and requests from Members of Congress who lost re-election seeking to find positions for themselves. Internal memoranda discuss the status of current Legislative Affairs staff and who should be kept or replaced. The Reference and Research Files series contains reports, books and articles used by Mr. Timmons and his staff to collect data to establish whether the administration support or attempt to defeat a legislative issue.

The collection includes one box of photographs and one audio tape that has been transferred to our audio-visual department. Please contact the Nixon Library audio-visual staff if you are interested in viewing these items.

Series Description

Boxes: 1-52Series: Subject Files Spans: January 1969 – August 1974Description: Contains letters and memoranda to and from Mr. Timmons and the Legislative Affairs staff as well as reports, articles, speech drafts and other ephemera. The materials cover subjects on both foreign and domestic policy, legislation and campaign issues for Members of Congress and President Nixon. The series is arranged chronologically in two groups 1969-1972 and 1973-1974 and then alphabetically by subject name.

Boxes: 53-85Series: Legislative Files Spans: January 1969 – August 1974Description: The materials in this series include letters, memoranda, reports, draft legislation, published legislation and vote tracking sheets. The majority of the materials come from the 91st and 92nd sessions of Congress. The series is arranged alphabetically.

Boxes: 86-112Series: Inter-Office Memoranda Spans: January 1969 – August 1974Description: The materials in this series include internal memoranda between Mr. Timmons, the Legislative Affairs staff and other White House staff members. The series has three sub-series: House of Representatives, Senate and White House Staff. Each sub-series are arranged alphabetically by name.

Boxes: 113-270Series: Correspondence Spans: January 1969 – August 1974Description: The materials in this series include letters and memoranda to and from Mr. Timmons and the Legislative affairs staff. The series has four sub-series: House of Representatives, Senate, Clark MacGregor Files and General Correspondence. The House of Representatives and Senate sub-series are arranged chronologically by year and then alphabetically by name. The Clark MacGregor Files and General Correspondence sub-series are arranged alphabetically.

Boxes: 271-334Series: Chronological Files Spans: January 1969 – August 1974Description: The materials in this series include copies of all correspondence sent by William Timmons and the Legislative Affairs staff to The President, White House staff members, Members of Congress and the general public. The series is arranged chronologically by year and alphabetically within each year.

Boxes: 335-348Series: Personnel Files Spans: January 1969 – August 1974Description: Materials in this series include letters, memoranda, resumes and application forms from individuals seeking positions with the White House Legislative Affairs staff or the Legislative affairs staff at different government agencies. The series is arranged alphabetically.

Boxes: 349-361Series: Reference and Research Files Spans: January 1969 – August 1974Description: Materials in this series include reports, books, articles, and magazines used by the Legislative Affairs staff to research legislative issues. The series is arranged alphabetically.

Personnel (1 of 3)
Personnel (2 of 3)
Personnel (3 of 3)
Photograph Requests
Political (1 of 9)
Political (2 of 9)
Political (3 of 9)
Political (4 of 9)
Political (5 of 9)
Political (6 of 9)
Political (7 of 9)
Political (8 of 9)
Political (9 of 9)

Visitor’s Office
Voting Record of Senators and House of Rep.
Water Desalination Program
Water Resource Council
White House Fellows
William E. Timmons (1 of 5)
William E. Timmons (2 of 5)
William E. Timmons (3 of 5)
William E. Timmons (4 of 5)
William E. Timmons (5 of 5)
Women’s Rights

Series I: Subject Files
1973 – 1974

Box 27

1973—Bills Received (1 of 6)
1973—Bills Received (2 of 6)
1973—Bills Received (3 of 6)
1973—Bills Received (4 of 6)
1973—Bills Received (5 of 6)
1973—Bills Received (6 of 6)
Agriculture (1 of 3)
Agriculture (2 of 3)
Agriculture (3 of 3)
Amnesty
Alaska Pipeline
Appropriations
Attorney General

State of the Union/Budget/Economic Report (1 of 6)
State of the Union/Budget/Economic Report (2 of 6)
State of the Union/Budget/Economic Report (3 of 6)
State of the Union/Budget/Economic Report (4 of 6)
State of the Union/Budget/Economic Report (5 of 6)
State of the Union/Budget/Economic Report (6 of 6)
Strip/Surface Mining
Sugar
Taxes
Timmons—Cole Briefing for the Vice President
VEEP (1 of 5)
VEEP (2 of 5)
VEEP (3 of 5)
VEEP (4 of 5)
VEEP (5 of 5)
Vocational Rehab-Aging
Voter Registration Act

Box 50

War Powers (1 of 3)
War Powers (2 of 3)
War Powers (3 of 3)
Wage & Price Control (1 of 2)
Wage & Price Control (2 of 2)
Watergate (1 of 6)
Watergate (2 of 6)
Watergate (3 of 6)
Watergate (4 of 6)
Watergate (5 of 6)
Watergate (6 of 6)

Harlow February 1969 (2 of 2)
Harlow March 1969
Harlow April 1969
Harlow May 1969
Harlow June 1969
Harlow July 1969
Harlow August 1969
Harlow September 1969
Harlow October 1969 (1 of 2)
Harlow October 1969 (2 of 2)
Harlow November 1969
Harlow December 1969

Public Correspondence (A) (1 of 4)
Public Correspondence (A) (2 of 4)
Public Correspondence (A) (3 of 4)
Public Correspondence (A) (4 of 4)
Public Correspondence (B) (1 of 5)
Public Correspondence (B) (2 of 5)
Public Correspondence (B) (3 of 5)
Public Correspondence (B) (4 of 5)
Public Correspondence (B) (5 of 5)
Public Correspondence (C) (1 of 5)
Public Correspondence (C) (2 of 5)
Public Correspondence (C) (3 of 5)
Public Correspondence (C) (4 of 5)
Public Correspondence (C) (5 of 5)

Box 267

Public Correspondence D (1 of 4)
Public Correspondence D (2 of 4)
Public Correspondence D (3 of 4)
Public Correspondence D (4 of 4)
Public Correspondence E (1 of 2)
Public Correspondence E (2 of 2)
Public Correspondence F (1 of 4)
Public Correspondence F (2 of 4)
Public Correspondence F (3 of 4)
Public Correspondence F (4 of 4)
Public Correspondence G (1 of 4)
Public Correspondence G (2 of 4)
Public Correspondence G (3 of 4)
Public Correspondence G (4 of 4)

Box 268

Public Correspondence H (1 of 6)
Public Correspondence H (2 of 6)
Public Correspondence H (3 of 6)
Public Correspondence H (4 of 6)
Public Correspondence H (5 of 6)
Public Correspondence H (6 of 6)
Public Correspondence I (1 of 1)
Public Correspondence J (1 of 2)
Public Correspondence J (2 of 2)
Public Correspondence K (1 of 2)
Public Correspondence K (2 of 2)
Public Correspondence L (1 of 3)
Public Correspondence L (2 of 3)
Public Correspondence L (3 of 3)
Public Correspondence M (1 of 3)
Public Correspondence M (2 of 3)
Public Correspondence M (3 of 3)

October Chron. – Not Separated (1 of 6)
October Chron. – Not Separated (2 of 6)
October Chron. – Not Separated (3 of 6)
October Chron. – Not Separated (4 of 6)
October Chron. – Not Separated (5 of 6)
October Chron. – Not Separated (6 of 6)
November Chronological (1 of 5)
November Chronological (2 of 5)
November Chronological (3 of 5)
November Chronological (4 of 5)
November Chronological (5 of 5)

May 1970-Chronicle (1 of 4)
May 1970-Chronicle (2 of 4)
May 1970-Chronicle (3 of 4)
May 1970-Chronicle (4 of 4)
June 1970-Chron. File (1 of 5)
June 1970-Chron. File (2 of 5)
June 1970-Chron. File (3 of 5)
June 1970-Chron. File (4 of 5)
June 1970-Chron. File (5 of 5)

Box 283

July 1970-Chron. (1 of 4)
July 1970-Chron. (2 of 4)
July 1970-Chron. (3 of 4)
July 1970-Chron. (4 of 4)
August 1970-Chron. (1 of 4)
August 1970-Chron. (2 of 4)
August 1970-Chron. (3 of 4)
August 1970-Chron. (4 of 4)

Box 284

September 1970-Chron. (1 of 3)
September 1970-Chron. (2 of 3)
September 1970-Chron. (3 of 3)
October 1970-Chron. (1 of 4)
October 1970-Chron. (2 of 4)
October 1970-Chron. (3 of 4)
October 1970-Chron. (4 of 4)
Nov. 1970-Chron. (1 of 3)
Nov. 1970-Chron (2 of 3)
Nov. 1970-Chron (3 of 3)

Letters to Members from President (1 of 4)
Letters to Members from President (2 of 4)
Letters to Members from President (3 of 4)
Letters to Members from President (4 of 4)
Letters to the President Senate (1 of 4)
Letters to the President Senate (2 of 4)
Letters to the President Senate (3 of 4)
Letters to the President Senate (4 of 4)
Lyn Nofziger (1 of 2)
Lyn Nofziger (2 of 2)
Nidecker Corresp. 1970 (1 of 2)
Nidecker Corresp. 1970 (2 of 2)
Picture Requests: Last Names A-C
Picture Requests: Last Names D-H

March ’71 Chron. (9 of 11)
March ’71 Chron. (10 of 11)
March ’71 Chron. (11 of 11)
April ’71 Chron. (1 of 7)
April ’71 Chron. (2 of 7)
April ’71 Chron. (3 of 7)
April ’71 Chron. (4 of 7)
April ’71 Chron. (5 of 7)
April ’71 Chron. (6 of 7)
April ’71 Chron. (7 of 7)
May ’71 Chron. (1 of 5)
May ’71 Chron. (2 of 5)
May ’71 Chron. (3 of 5)
May ’71 Chron. (4 of 5)
May ’71 Chron. (5 of 5)

Box 296

June ’71 Chron. (1 of 5)
June ’71 Chron. (2 of 5)
June ’71 Chron. (3 of 5)
June ’71 Chron. (4 of 5)
June ’71 Chron. (5 of 5)
July ’71 Chron. (1 of 7)
July ’71 Chron. (2 of 7)
July ’71 Chron. (3 of 7)
July ’71 Chron. (4 of 7)
July ’71 Chron. (5 of 7)
July ’71 Chron. (6 of 7)
July ’71 Chron. (7 of 7)

Chron. July ’72 (1 of 5)
Chron. July ’72 (2 of 5)
Chron. July ’72 (3 of 5)
Chron. July ’72 (4 of 5)
Chron. July ’72 (5 of 5)
Chron. August ’72 (1 of 4)
Chron. August ’72 (2 of 4)
Chron. August ’72 (3 of 4)
Chron. August ’72 (4 of 4)
Chron. September ’72 (1 of 6)
Chron. September ’72 (2 of 6)
Chron. September ’72 (3 of 6)
Chron. September ’72 (4 of 6)

Box 311

Chron. September ’72 (5 of 6)
Chron. September ’72 (6 of 6)
Chron. October ’72 (1 of 7)
Chron. October ’72 (1 of 7)
Chron. October ’72 (2 of 7)
Chron. October ’72 (3 of 7)
Chron. October ’72 (4 of 7)
Chron. October ’72 (5 of 7)
Chron. October ’72 (6 of 7)
Chron. October ’72 (7 of 7)
Chron. November ’72 (1 of 7)
Chron. November ’72 (2 of 7)
Chron. November ’72 (3 of 7)
Chron. November ’72 (4 of 7)
Chron. November ’72 (5 of 7)

Box 312

Chron. November ’72 (6 of 7)
Chron. November ’72 (7 of 7)
Chron. December ’72 (1 of 5)
Chron. December ’72 (2 of 5)
Chron. December ’72 (3 of 5)
Chron. December ’72 (4 of 5)
Chron. December ’72 (5 of 5)\
1972 House Log A-K (1 of 6)
1972 House Log A-K (2 of 6)
1972 House Log A-K (3 of 6)
1972 House Log A-K (4 of 6)
1972 House Log A-K (5 of 6)
1972 House Log A-K (6 of 6)
1972 House Log L-Z (1 of 5)
1972 House Log L-Z (2 of 5)

March ’73 Chron. (1 of 7)
March ’73 Chron. (2 of 7)
March ’73 Chron. (3 of 7)
March ’73 Chron. (4 of 7)
March ’73 Chron. (5 of 7)
March ’73 Chron. (6 of 7)
March ’73 Chron. (7 of 7)
April ’73 Chron. (1 of 7)
April ’73 Chron. (2 of 7)
April ’73 Chron. (3 of 7)
April ’73 Chron. (4 of 7)
April ’73 Chron. (5 of 7)
April ’73 Chron. (6 of 7)
April ’73 Chron. (7 of 7)

Box 320

May ’73 Chron. (1 of 7)
May ’73 Chron. (2 of 7)
May ’73 Chron. (3 of 7)
May ’73 Chron. (4 of 7)
May ’73 Chron. (5 of 7)
May ’73 Chron. (6 of 7)
May ’73 Chron. (7 of 7)
June ’73 Chron. (1 of 6)
June ’73 Chron. (2 of 6)
June ’73 Chron. (3 of 6)
June ’73 Chron. (4 of 6)
June ’73 Chron. (5 of 6)
June ’73 Chron. (6 of 6)

Box 321

June ’73 Chron. (1 of 6)
June ’73 Chron. (2 of 6)
June ’73 Chron. (3 of 6)
June ’73 Chron. (4 of 6)
June ’73 Chron. (5 of 6)
June ’73 Chron. (6 of 6)
August ’73 Chron. (1 of 6)
August ’73 Chron. (2 of 6)
August ’73 Chron. (3 of 6)
August ’73 Chron. (4 of 6)
August ’73 Chron. (5 of 6)
August ’73 Chron. (6 of 6)
September ’73 Chron. (1 of 4)
September ’73 Chron. (2 of 4)
September ’73 Chron. (3 of 4)
September ’73 Chron. (4 of 4)

Box 322

October ’73 Chron. (1 of 5)
October ’73 Chron. (2 of 5)
October ’73 Chron. (3 of 5)
October ’73 Chron. (4 of 5)
October ’73 Chron. (5 of 5)
November ’73 Chron. (1 of 6)
November ’73 Chron. (2 of 6)
November ’73 Chron. (3 of 6)
November ’73 Chron. (4 of 6)
November ’73 Chron. (5 of 6)
November ’73 Chron. (6 of 6)
December ’73 Chron. (1 of 6)
December ’73 Chron. (2 of 6)
December ’73 Chron. (3 of 6)
December ’73 Chron. (4 of 6)
December ’73 Chron. (5 of 6)
December ’73 Chron. (6 of 6)

Senate (1 of 5)
Senate (2 of 5)
Senate (3 of 5)
Senate (4 of 5)
Senate (5 of 5)
Sense of Congress
School Desegregation (1 of 4)
School Desegregation (2 of 4)
School Desegregation (3 of 4)
School Desegregation (4 of 4)
School Districts by State (1 of 2)
School Districts by State (2 of 2)